Breaking barriers, building networks

The last thing we need is the ability to answer emails while camping on holiday in the desert, but it would be nice to have the option. Yet, millions in underserved rural areas across the Middle East and Africa (MEA) still battle patchy internet connections, their fate tied to undersea cables that a single storm or diplomatic rift can sever. Satellite broadband promises to meet both needs, delivering streaming-quality bandwidth alongside hardened, low-latency links for critical enterprise traffic around the clock.

Satellite broadband offers a dual promise: streaming-grade bandwidth for daily life, and robust, low-latency links that can keep critical enterprise systems online when the world goes dark.

Expanding investments in the low-earth orbit (LEO) space, along with the rise of AI-driven tools, are expected to significantly increase satellite broadband availability while lowering operational costs for providers, particularly in areas where conventional networks are either too expensive or impractical and as more operators launch direct-to-device services.

The next five years could serve as a sectoral turning point, as more deals and agreements are signed across the region.

In April, Elon Musk’s Starlink launched in Jordan, after earlier rollouts in Oman, Qatar and Yemen. The same month, Emirati company Space42 and US-based Viasat teamed up to create a shared multi-orbit 5G system to bring better direct-to-device (D2D) communications as well as emergency support to remote and underserved areas; the agreement followed a successful demonstration of satellite-enabled two-way messages in Riyadh in November. Meanwhile in March, European satcoms operator Eutelsat and the French telecom Orange Africa announced a partnership to deliver up to 100Mbps broadband in Jordan, Côte d’Ivoire, Senegal, and the DRC, with plans to expand regionally

Reaching across the digital divide

As in other markets, these players are positioning themselves a viable solution for remote areas and underserved regions where traditional infrastructure is lacking and expensive. As a 2024 Internet Society study of the MENA region points out, there is a significant gap in broadband availability and digital inclusion across the region: the inclusive Internet Index for Kuwait is 80%, but only 55% in Algeria.

Satellite broadband could fill that digital divide by linking dispersed villages and dead zones to global networks, while also saving on fibre infrastructure costs, according to Amazon research.

But expansion in the MEA is proceeding more slowly than in other regions, not least because of regulatory constraints. Analysys Mason projections for consumer broadband in the region show a growth in high throughput satellite (HTS) capacity from 285 gigabits per second (Gbits/s) at present to 3.8 terabits per second in 2030. In terms of service revenue, market size is expected to grow from $116m to $609m over the same period. The LEO satellite market is to generate 71% of total service revenue by the end of the decade.

Corresponding HTS capacity demand for enterprise data in the MEA region will grow from a total of 45 Gbits/s in 2025 to 213 Gbits/s in 2030, the consulting firm says. In terms of service revenue, that’s an expansion to $860m from $505m at present. The projected service revenue contribution here is 52% in 2030.

“We are noting low to moderate growth of satellite broadband in the Middle East compared to other regions,” Vivek Prasad, principal analyst for space and satellite at access to information, education, and opportunities, all while respecting local ecosystems and regulations”.

Redrawing the map, one region at a time

Indeed, the wider penetration of satellite – and digital – services can help leapfrog traditional economic development models, particularly in inaccessible areas.

Momentum is now building in key early markets ahead of widespread regional adoption. “Jordan, Oman, Qatar and Yemen have got Starlink now, hence in the short term these countries will witness subscribers’ growth for the consumer broadband. But over the long term, we expect Saudi Arabia and UAE to drive the satellite broadband growth considering their strong digital plans and infrastructure investments,” Prasad added.

Oman, for example, has pushed to speed up satellite connectivity across its largely rural topography. In March, its Telecommunications Regulatory Authority approved a Starlink rollout, including via communications towers in regions with challenging terrain. The following month, OmanSat Technologies was licensed to establish and operate a national satellite communications system.

Similarly, Saudi Arabia’s digital-forward NEOM region, being built from the ground up at a cost of $500bn off the Red Sea coast, will depend on high-speed satellite internet from Eutelsat OneWeb’s LEO network.

“The major country where we see business opportunities [for satellite broadband] in the region is definitely Saudi Arabia. This is due to the growth triggered by its Saudi Vision 2030. And then, of course, Yemen and Sudan, driven by the political and economic resolution,” said Reema Omari, CEO of Universal Satcom, a systems integrator operating out of Dubai. The company, which prioritises service reliability in remote areas, has distribution agreements with major satcom providers and offers a broad range of telecoms and maritime services.

Besides rural connectivity and disaster response support, she said the biggest opportunities for broadband internet in the region lie in infrastructure and the development of data-centric internet of things (IoT) technologies. Not only do such industrial smart devices boost outcomes in sectors such as agriculture, aviation, energy and shipping, but the data they collect and exchange is essential to making the most of artificial intelligence (AI) to predict risks, optimise performance and automate decisions at scale, among other use cases.

Broadband backbone in the skies

That’s where new value propositions such as Rivada’s Outernet come in. The US company aims to deliver gigabit-speed internet globally bypassing the public internet and third-party infrastructure, including on the ground. The project rests on a constellation of 600 LEO satellites, test launches for which will begin next year. With full delivery expected by the end of 2027, it has already secured $16bn in contracts, most recently from the US Navy.

“The Outernet’s ability to meet the requirements of the Middle East’s connectivity providers in terms of security, latency, capacity and coverage is a gamechanger for the region,” Ronald van der Breggen, Rivada’s Chief Commercial Officer said in an interview with SatellitePro ME.

Unlike traditional “bent-pipe” constellations that rely on ground gateways, this new network is designed as a second internet backbone in space, capable of routing traffic from one satellite to another with no need for a gateway on earth until the data reaches its destination.

Accessible via Ka-band terminals, the Outernet meets growing demands for data sovereignty, resilient infrastructure and next-generation digital innovation, van der Breggen said. The project offers greater connectivity with better bandwidth across widely distributed locations. Applications include secure, single-domain networks for banks and other multinationals, greater bandwidth for oil and gas exploration firms and stronger linkages for maritime use. It also supports 5G satellite backhaul for cellular network expansion.

“Connectivity providers in the Middle East can gain a competitive advantage by expanding their offerings in these markets, enabling new opportunities through secure, multi-gigabit bi-directional performance, combined with worldwide reach. Global and Red Sea subsea cables, which carry much of the world’s data traffic, are increasingly becoming a focal point of geopolitical tensions, with frequent cable cuts resulting in severe outages. More than ever, the Middle East region needs resilient infrastructure that is fast, secure and reliable,” van Breggen said.

“The Outernet is a key to enhancing the region’s telecommunications infrastructure in terms of data sovereignty and security, supporting AI national digital strategies, ensuring uninterrupted connectivity and expanding international networks,” he added.

Price sensitivity and profitability pressures

But before the promise of satellite broadband is realised, operators expanding into the Middle East and Africa will need to contend with several challenges. From regulatory delays to the emergence of competing technologies, these could impact growth and widespread adoption.

Top of the list will be regulatory approval and spectrum allocation, Analysys Mason’s Prasad said. Approval processes for new networks can take years in some markets, as governments seek to ensure compliance and avoid interference with existing services. Spectrum allocation, meanwhile, will require coordinating frequencies to avoid interference with existing services to ensure smooth operations.

The Internet Society advocates revising regulatory frameworks to accelerate infrastructure deployment. Its key recommendations include enhancing spectrum policies, removing regulatory barriers and fostering public-private partnerships to drive investment, competition and support for small and medium enterprises.

Internet connectivity is also a volumes game. On the one hand, the total number of satellite broadband users in the MEA region is projected to grow from 20m in 2022 to 50m by 2030, according to the Global Satellite Operators Association (GSOA). While that’s an increase of 140%, aggregate offtake figures may not provide sufficient business viability.

Reema Omari pointed out how conservative attitudes and uncertain business models are also holding back innovation, service expansion and overall market growth. “The key challenges I foresee in the region include rising price sensitivity, which is impacting profitability. GEO satellite operators are hesitant to take risks, slowing innovation and the deployment of new services. These factors collectively challenge the expansion and modernisation of satellite-based communication solutions,” she said.

“Additionally, LEO operators must refine their business models, as current terms do not fully incentivise service providers. Narrowing this gap is crucial. More compelling value propositions are needed to drive wider LEO integration and market growth, ensuring better solutions for customers,” she added. Here, competition from local providers also comes into play. Large global companies such as Starlink may be pushing for rapid growth, but telecom markets may be saturated with local and regional alternatives, particularly in urban areas.

Finally, there’s the large gap in consumer awareness about satellite broadband. Many consumers remain unaware of its availability or are sceptical of its reliability compared to traditional broadband options. For enterprises, the lack of understanding of satellite connectivity’s capabilities can lead to hesitancy in adopting this new technology.

Hybrid approaches and orbital alliances

Despite these obstacles, there are promising paths forward – for example, through cross-border agreements or with hybrid models.

Partnerships between regional incumbents and global constellation players, for instance, can help accelerate market penetration. “Moving forward, we can expect market expansion utilising partnerships between regional players and global constellation players, where regional players like Arabsat or STC leverage the footprint and know-how and constellation players such as Starlink and OneWeb offer high bandwidth at lower price per megabit-per-second offering to end users,” Prasad said.

Much will also depend on government action, through strengthening regional regulatory cooperation to reduce delays, subsidising ground infrastructure or offering incentives to providers could ease cost burdens and stimulate adoption. At least over the medium term, then, satellite broadband is most likely to comprise a mix of LEO and GEO services. As Eutelsat’s Berneke explains it, such a hybrid approach combines LEO’s speed and low latency with GEO’s reach and resilience. GEO satellites can fill the gaps left by LEO units, ensuring the consistent service and wider coverage necessary to address the region’s need for reliable, low-latency connectivity, whether for digital inclusion or economic transformation.